91-year-old great-grandmother chases thief who stole precious jewellery from her | World | News

A 91-year-old great-grandmother managed to bravely scare off a thief after he stole some of her most precious jewellery.

Joanna “Jopie” De Loryn was taking out rubbish at her home in Brisbane, Australia when she confronted the hooded man.

She boldly chased after him to get her handbag back, but unfortunately he made off with her wallet and some jewellery. 

Many of the valuable items were given to her by her late husband of 65 years, Bart, who passed away almost a year prior.

Jopie told Australian outlet Nine News: “I thought he should not have my stuff and the cheek of him, to come in my house.

“I should’ve tossed a flower pot on top of him but I didn’t.

“[He took] my engagement ring, and it was my anniversary ring and he bought me a beautiful watch while we were in Switzerland.”

The plucky pensioner talked about the sentimental pieces that were cruelly snatched from her.  

She said: “You know, all the bits and pieces, and they’re not replaceable.

“They just take it and it’s no use to them because they just get rid of it. You can buy another ring but it’s not the same. It’s not the one Bart bought me.”

She added: “It frightens me that they do things like that to people and hurt them. Luckily they didn’t hurt me. I would’ve hurt him first I think. I don’t know.”

Now, all Jopie wants back is a note in her wallet given to her by her son, Mark.

She told 7News: “In my wallet was a little card that Mark bought for me. It said, ‘I’ll stay with you until you go’, it was so nice and that’s what I’d like to have back.”

She said she stills feels “a bit shaky” after the shocking ordeal, particularly as she doesn’t know her long the thief was in her home for.

She said: “It’s not a nice feeling, to have a stranger coming in and taking all your stuff and walking out…and I don’t know how long he was in my bedroom. I still feel a bit shaky.”